To generate creative ideas through spontaneous group discussion or individual thinking (verb); a sudden burst of creative thinking or a collaborative idea-generation session (noun). Emphasizes free-flowing, uncritical idea production.
Originally a medical term from the 1890s meaning a sudden mental disturbance or fit of insanity. Alex Osborn popularized the creative meaning in the 1950s, transforming it from a negative medical term into a positive creative process.
The transformation of 'brainstorm' from meaning mental illness to creative collaboration is one of the most dramatic semantic shifts in modern English. Osborn's brainstorming rules - like 'no criticism during idea generation' - fundamentally changed how businesses and schools approach problem-solving and creativity.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.